Garbage-receptacle.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

H. E. AMES. GARBAGE REGBPTAGLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1906.

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. UNITED STATES HOWARD EMERSON AMES, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

GARB AGE-RE CE P'IAC LE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed August 2,1906. Serial No. 328,957-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD EMERSON Anns, medical inspector, United States Navy, serving on board United States flagship Maine, and a citizen of the United States, residing at Annapolis, in the county of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garbage-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in covered receptacles for temporarily holding garbage or other refuse matter, and while specially intended to serve as receptacles for garbage, the vessel is also capable of being used for domestic purposes, such as transportation of coal, slops, or the like, and also for use in hospitals.

I have shown the invention as embodied in a garbage can, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvedgarbage can with the lid closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the top of the can shown in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale. Fig. 3 shows a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the opposite side of the garbage can is shown, and the various positions of the handle and of the cover are shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 shows the arrangement for adjusting the tension of the spring for restoring the handle and with it the cover to the closed position. Fig. 6 is a detail'showing the adjustable stop for regulating the tension of the spring, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spring used for restoring the handle to the initial or closed position.

A represents the body of the can, to which is permanently attached the part B of the cover, as also the loop 0, which may be provided for convenience in tilting the can. The parts A and Bmay be connected together in any convenient way, such, for. instance, as by the folded flanges a and b, shown in Fig. 3.

D represents the swinging member of the cover, which is preferably curved upwards, as at d, to shed water, and is also curved upwards, as at d, see Fig. 3, to n r ke a snug fit with the upward curved portion b 3i the fixed portion of the cover B. These two come together in a line coinciding with the axis of the hinge of the cover, so that they will form a snug joint and yet permit the member D to swing relative to the member B. This tight joint not only prevents any water from dripping into the can, but also prevents the escape of noxious gases. The cover D is also provided with gutters d and lugs d whose function will be hereinafter described. The member D of the cover is hinged to the member B by means of the two hinged members E fast to the part B, and the loop E fast to the part D, which are connected together by the hinge pins E E the latter of which is provided with a head 6 F represents the bail or handle of the can, which is connected by the studs F to the plates I, 1, fast to the side of the can. The plate I is slotted, as at 'i, and is provided with a series of notches '0 adapted to engage the lug h on the arm H. This arm is provided with a head H adapted to it in said groove 11, and with a face 12 adapted to engage the bent end g of the spring G. This spring is coiled as at g to pass over the stud F and has its opposite end g bent to lit in a socket in the bail F, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7. By moving this arm H, causing the lug g to engage in one or the other of the notches i, the tension of the spring G may be varied at will. The purpose of this spring is to autdmatically restore the bail F to the initial position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

On the opposite side of the can from the spring G the apparatus for automatically lifting the cover D when the bail is lifted, is provided. This apparatus comprises an arm F secured to or integral with the bail F, and terminating in a hook f; an arm N rigidly secured to the cover D; a curved sliding bar M; and a link K. The link K is provided with a stud 7: adapted to engage the hook f when the bail is lifted to the position shown at 2 in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This link K is normally held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, by the shoulder m on the bar M. The link K is pivoted to said bar M, as at k, and the said bar is pivoted to the arm N, as at m, and slides through the guide O secured to the side of the can, see Fig. 4.

The operation of the device is as follows. The parts being in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, if the bail be lifted from the position 1 to the position 2, the hook f will engage the lug It, and up to this time the cover D will remain in the closed position. Further movement of the bail backwards about its pivots will cause the hook f to pull on the link K, sliding the bar M in the guide O until, when the cover is fully opened, the bail, the cover, and the bar M will be in the position indicated in dotted lines at 3 in Fig. 4. Now, if the bail is released, the spring G being under tension, this spring will swing the bail forwards again, and as soon as it strikes the cover the two will fall together to the closed position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring may be adjusted by means of the bar H, so that the cover will remain lifted until a slight movement is given to the bail by hand, or the spring may be thrown entirely out of operation, if desired, and thus the automatic closing of the can may be done away with, this then being effected by swinging the bail to the initial position by hand.

In order to prevent the lifting of the cover D by cats or other animals, the lugs (P are provided, which engage on the inside of the bail F.

It will be noted that the bail F and the cover D rotate about different axes, and that if any effort is made to lift the cover D without first raising the bail, these lugs d will jam against the inner face of the bail, and it will be impossible to lift the cover; Thus in order to raise the cover, it is necessary to first raise the bail, and then the cover may be lifted, either by the action of the ball itself, or by hand. By having the edges of the cover D overhanging, as at D, the entrance of water and the exit of noxious gases is in a large measure avoided, while the curve d of the cover and the ridge formed by the members b and d, as shown in Fig. 3, will cause any Water that falls on the top of the can to be shed therefrom. To prevent water from accumulating inside of the loop E of the hinge, gutters d may be provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be seen that I provide a receptacle which 1s practically water tight, either for its contents, or for any water that may fall thereon, and which is also practically gas tight to prevent the escape of noxious gases, and in which the cover may be made to close automatically, if desired, after being opened. Furthermore, it will be noted that the receptacle may be made of inexpensive material, and the various operative parts may be stamped out at small cost, so that the final product may be very cheaply constructed and assembled.

While I have described the invention as applied to a garbage can, it will be obvious that it may be used for kitchen or household service, and in various other ways which it is unnecessary to further mention.

It will also be obvious that various modifications might be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A receptacle of the character described, comprising a body portion, a hinged cover, a bail, means automatically operated upon moving said bail for lifting said cover, a spring for automatically restoring said bail and said cover to the closed position, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring, substantially as described.

2. A receptacle of the character described, comprising a body portion, a hinged cover curved upwards and flanged downwards to shed water, a bail, means automatically operated upon moving said bail for lifting said cover, a spring for automatically restoring said bail and said cover to the closed position, and meansv for adjusting the tension of said spring, substantially as described.

3. A receptacle of the character described, comprising a body portion, a hinged cover, a bail hinged to swing about a diiferent axis from said cover, and lugs on said cover engaging said ball and locking same against upward motion until said bail is lifted, substantially as described.

4. A receptacle of the character described, comprising a body portion, a hinged cover, a bail, means automatically operated upon moving said bail for lifting said cover, and means for automatically restoring said bail and said cover to the initial position, comprising a bent'resilient rod con nected to the body portion and to said bail, respectively, substantially as described.

5. A receptacle of the character described, comprising a body portion, a hinged cover, a bail, means automatically operated upon moving said bail for lifting said cover, and a spring for automatically restoring said ball and said cover to the initial position, comprising a bent resilient rod connected to the body portion and to said bail, respectively, substantially as described.

6. In a receptacle of the character described, the combination with a body portion, a hinged cover and plates rigidly attached to said body portion, one of the said plates being provided with an aro'shaped groove and with a plurality of notches, and both plates being provided with pivot lugs, of a bail hinged to saidlugs, an arm carrying a flange adapted to project into said arc-shaped groove and a lug, adapted to engage in any one of said notches, and a bent resilient rod looped to go over one of said pivot lugs, and having its ends bent to engage said arm and said bail respectively, substantially as described.

7. In a receptacle of the character described, the combination with a body portion, a hinged cover and plates rigidly attached to said body portion, one of the said plates being provided with an arc-shaped groove and with a plurality of notches, and both plates being provided with pivot lugs, of a bail hinged to said lugs, an arm carrying a flange adapted to project into said arc-shaped groove, and a lug adapted to engage in any one of said notches, and a bent resilient rod looped to go over one of said pivot lugs, and having its ends bent to engage said arm and said bail respectively, with lugs carried by said cover and adapted to engage on the inside of said bail and to lock said cover down until said ball is lifted, substantially as described.

' 8. In a receptacle of the character described, the combination with a body portion, a hinged cover and plates rigidly attached to said body portion, one of the said plates being provided with an arc-shaped groove and with a plurality of notches, and both plates being provided with pivot lugs, of a bail hinged to said lugs, an arm carrying a flange adapted to project into said arc-shaped groove, and a lug adapted to engage in any one of said notches, and a bent resilient rod looped to go ovenone of said pivot lugs, and having its ends bent to engage said arm and said ball respectively, with means automatically operated by the lifting of said ball for swinging said cover about its pivots, substantially as described.

9. In a receptacle of the character described, the combination with a body portion, a hinged cover and plates rigidly attached to said body portion, one of the said plates being provided with an arc-shaped groove and with a plurality of notches, and both plates being provided with pivot lugs, of a bail hinged to said lugs, an arm carrying a flange adapted to project into said arc-shaped groove, and a lug adapted to engage in any one of said notches, and a bent resilient rod looped to go over one of said pivot lugs,

and having its ends bent to engage said arm and said bail respectively, with lugs carried by said cover and adapted to engage on the inside of said bail and to lock said cover down until said bail is lifted, with means automatically operated by the lifting of said bail for swinging said cover about its pivots, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

nowARD EMERSON AMns.

Witnesses DAVID A. LAWTON, ROBERT LONG. 

